Supply-controlling means for textile-preparing machinery



Feb. 16 1926.

A. F. HORMAN SUPPLY GONTROLLING MEANS FOR TEXTILE P REPARING MACHINERY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Il Izen'or:

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ionqy Filed Sept. 6. 1923 Feb. 16 1926.

A. F. HORMAN SUPPLY CONTROLLI'NG MEANS FOR TEXTILE PREPARING MACHINERY Filed Sept. 6, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet inve-nim um Si Aw ew @MPC y M Zia may Patented Feb. 16, i926. i

UNITE-o STATES v1,573,709 PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTINE F. HORMAN, QF ANDOVER, MASSACHTISTTS.

sUrrLY-ooNTnoLLTNG :MEANS ron TEXTILE-PREPARINGMAeirNERYy- Application filed september e, ,1923; seriai No, 661,179.

To all whom t may concer/a.'

Be it known that I, AUoUsTiNE F.y Hon MAN, a citizen of the United States, res1d ing at Andover, vin ythe county 'of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have inventeda cer- Y tain new and useful Improvem'entyin Supmaterial continuously. to carding engines` and other preparing machines.

My invention consists in supply-'controlling means for preparing machinery, comprising,:in combination with a hopper and a trunkv for supplying fibrous material to the said hopper, aout-'off by which the discharge `of such material' from said trunk into'said hopper may be arrested, a moving v actuating member, and means governed by the quantity of vfibrous materialwithin the hopper for engaging saict actuating member with thecut-o connections to actuate the cut-off so asto permit such discharge to occur. Y v

An illustrative embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings combined with a feeder of familiar type.

In the drawings, c Fig. Y`1 is a side elevation of the said feeder and its connected supply trunk, showing the invention applied thereto, the cutoff and the parts more immediately asso-Y ciated therewith being in thepositions they assume when the cutfoff is shut to prevent fibrous material from` enteringy the feederhopper. Y

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with the cut-off open to permit fibrous material' to pass into the hopper.

, Fig. Sis a plan view of the two halves' outside source to'supply the `feeder 1.

The said feeder 1, as-usual, comprises al hopper 3 into which the fibrous material descends from .supply-trunk 2, and from which such material is fed by a spiked vertically extending apron 4, which lifts it up and over `which brous material is conducted fromlan the roll' 5, the fibrous materialbeingdischarged vfrom apron 4f upon a horizontal apron 6 which feeds it to the carding-engine or other machineyIn practice, a rack. or presser 7 ,yieldingly actuated by a spring or weight (not shown) isemployed to insure the proper presentation to the spiked apron of fibrous material occupying the hopper. This rack 7 is fixed on a transverse shaft 8,

which is mounted in bearings in connection f with'the hopperso as 'to yallow the rack to be pushed back against the inclined surface ofthe Youterrwall ofthe hopper, as'shown in Fig. 1,'.whensaid hopperfis full-of fibrous material, and to enable it toswing toward the'apron 4, as shown in Fig. 2,- under'the action of its springor weight (noti shown), to press y.the contents of .thehopper against the upwardlytraveling run of the spiked apron4, as'fthe quantity of fibrous material within the hopperfdecreases.

The cut-off may vary in specific construc-` tion and 'mode of operation, but advantageously .may be ofcomb-form, as in the drawings, with teeth`9, 9, arranged to work .in holes in thes'hell of thetrunk 2 and extending di'ametricallyof the trunk. Preferably, I employ, in thefcase of atrunk of large dimensions in cross-section two combs facing each other, point to point, as indicated inthe drawings, and respectively movable transversely ofthe trunk in opposite direc tions toward and from keach other, with the teeth of each lcomb Iextending only part way across the vinterior of the trunk. Thereby the extent of movement of each coinb of the pair is lessl than wouldbe necessary if only .a single comb should be employed. 1- A single comb may be employed, however,where such employment is'convenient. kIn this instance the comb-teeth 9. 9, areafiixed to the' back? ings 12,v 12, which respectively arebent to a shape which conforms to thel exterior shape said backings being providedwith rollers '10, y10, that work between upper and lower 'tracks 13, 13, which are secured in pairs on opposite sides of the trunk 2.v When the combshave beenqclosed together by being f of the supply-trunk 2Y the side-arm of the.

moved inwardly toward each other into the position shown in Fig. 1, the teeth 14 `constitute an effective barrier or cut-off to prevent movementdownwardly o't the mass of fibrous material which has been deposited in the supply-trunk 2 through the conductor 15. W hen the combs are opened apart by'being moved outwardly away from each other, the accumulated mass detained by their teeth is permitted to drop into the hopper.

The cutoff is closed by the action of eontracting springs 16, 16, each anchored by one of its ends to a side of the supply-trunk 2, the said springs pullinginwardly toward the middle line of the supply-trunk upon the lower arms of levers 17, 17, which are fixed upon rockshafts 18, 18, mounted upon the supply-trunk 2. the said levers being connected at their lower ends respectively with the two halves of the cut-off. In the present embodiment four of such levers 17 are employed, comprising two pairs, a pair at each side of the rectangular supply-trunk; they are engaged operatively with the halves of the cut-off' by means of slots 19, 19, in the lower arms of the levers, receiving the'projecting pintles 11, 11, of certain of' the rollers 10, 10.

inected at 22 with links The cut-ofi' is opened to permit the descentof fibrous material from the supply-trunk 2 into the hopper 3, by means of downward movement imparted, as will be described, to an actuating rod 20 mounted for vertical sliding movement in guides 21, 21, 21, secured to one side of the supply-trunk 2 and the corresponding side of the hopper 3. The upper end of such actuating rod 2O is con- 23, 23, which are joined at 2a, 24e, with the upper arms of the levers 17, 17, Downward movement of the actuating rod 20 serves to draw the upper ends 24, 24, of the levers 17 toward each other and thus to spread the lower .ends apart, separating the two halves t), of the cut-oil and allowing the fibrous material to descend into the hopper 3. As soon as the springs 1G, 16, are permitted to act reversely they operate to close the cut-ofi' again, and in doing so raise the rod to its' normal elevated position.

To impart the necessary downward movement to actuating rod 20, a moving actuator' is employed. In the present instance such actuator is an arm 25, fixed upon a roelishaft 26 mounted in bearings at the top of hopper 3, the said roclishaft being c'unbined by means of a. crank-arm 27 fixed thereon and a link 28, with a crank-pin on a wheel 30 which is fixed to al rotating; shaft 31. The continuous rotation of the shaft 31 thus serves to oscillate the arm 25 constantly up and down. .Suitable provision is made for operative engagement between the free end of said arm 25, which moves up and down close to the .actuating rod 20, and the said rod. Herein the arm is provided with means of making engagement with a collar 32 fixed upon said rot` 20, when occasion arises for opening the cut-ott to admit more fibrous material to the hopper 8. This means comprises a bolt 33 occupyingan axial bore in the end of arm 25, such bolt being acted upon by a spring 31 confined behind it in the bore, such spring tending to project the bolt so as to cause it to extend beyond the end of the arm, the bolt being primarily held in retracted position inside the bore as shown in Fig. a by means of a detent in the form of a pin 35 radially extending from the bolt, working in a slot 35 in the wall of the tubular portion of the arm, and normally occupying a transversely offset part of the said slot, as in Fig. 11, the slot being L-shaped like the slot in the guide of a doorbolt. ilfhen projected, as in Fig. 5, the end of this bolt 33 engages with the collar on the actuating rod `2O in the downward movement of the continuously oscillating arm 25 whereupon the rod 2O is pulled downward to open the cut-off.

To call the bolt 33 on oscillating arm 25 into engagement with the collar 32 on rod 2O when the hopper 3 has been emptied `to the predetermined extent, 1 utilize the rack 7 within the hopper 3. To the outer end of the shaft 8 upon which is fixed the raelr '7, an arm 37 is .fixed and connected by link 38 with a trip 39 pivoted at t0 on the sid-e of the supply-trunk 2. The connections, arrangement, ete., are such that so long` as the rack is pressed back to the properextcnt by fibrous material occupying the hopper, the engaging portion of the trip is kept out. oi. the path in which the pin 35 ot'bolt 325 moves as the actuating arm 25 swings up and down. Also, so that when thel racli 7 is permitted to rise int-o the positionl shownin Fig. 2, by reason of the exhaustion ot the contents of the hopper by the action ot' spiked apron Ll, the trip 3f) will be turned over into the posit-ion shown in Fi 'with its engaging end in the path of the pin 35v so that as the oscillating arm 25 rises the pin will engage the said end andv bolt 33 will in consequence be rotated the amount necessary to carry the pin out of the transverse portion or notch o't the slot 36, This will free the 'bolt to the action of spring 311 and the latter will slid-e the boit length? wise so as to project the end of `said bolt l'ar enough to engage with the collar 82, as the arn'i 25descends. The rod 2O thereby will be drawn downward and the cut-oil' will be opened. n

For the purpose of restoring the bolt to its retracted position within arm 25 l provide a fixed dog 411 upon the sid-e of the trunk. In the linal portion of its ltlownward swing, the arm 25 passes between the side of the supplytrunk and the said dog Mld 41, asl shown inV Fig.`2,',wliere said arm is j ust entering beneath the dog. The inclined upper edge 42 of said dog engages the pin 35 of the bolt 33, and as the arm y25continues downward said edge acts as a cam, iii-.st to move saidpin lengthwise of yarm 25 to retract the bolt, and then tofsecuie lit in retracted Vposition by` turning it` so as to move :the pin 35u13 into the transverse'de tent-portion of L-shaped slot 36. yAs soon 25 will oscillate idly and the cut-oil remain closed, while the feeder proceeds to dispose ot' the ,chargev just placed in lits hopper 3. It' an insufficient quantity or weight of .librous material has been admitted to the hopper, theiracl; remains in its inward or Vlitted position and the trip 39 releases-the bolt33 each time the oscillating arm rises, to cause the arm to open the cut-olf repeatedly until enough material has been deposited upon the rack.l

To enable the devices to bring the trip 39 into play at an earlier or later stage. in the depletion of the contents of the hopper prof Vvision is made for adjustable connection between the rack 7 and the trip. y ln the present instance this provision consists in a series of holes 381, 381, 1n the lower end of the rod 38, .such series 'enabling the pin 382 which engages thesaid. iod with the arm 37 of the rack to be shifted from one hole toA the other so as to swing the trip into acting position earlier or later in the movement of the rack from its position shown in `Fig. l toward that shown in Fig.2.v

lVhat I claim as my invention is,-

1. Supply-controlling means for feeders comprising, in combination with a hopper and a trunk for supplying fibrous material to the said hopper, a cut-ofi normally occupying a position in which such material is arrested within said trunk, an oscillating Vactuating member, and means governed by the quantity of fibrous material within the hopper for engaging said actuating member and the cut-off connections to a'ctuatelthe cut-off so as to release the arrested material and 'permit a feeding discharge into :the hopper to occur.

2. Supply-controlling means for textile preparing machinery comprising, in combination with a hopper in connection with said machinery and a Atrunk sup plying iibrous material to the said hopper, a eut-olf normally occupying a position 1n which suchmaterial is arrested within said trunk,' an actuating rod operatively combined' with the cut-off, an actuating member, and lmeans governed by. the quanto bring about engagement between said Amember, and the actuating rod to actuate 'the latter so as to open the` cut-off and there! by release thev arrested material.

' 3; Supply-controlling vmeans for textile preparing machinery comprising, in combination with a liopperin connection with said machineryr and a trunk supplying fibrous material to the said hopper, a cutoff 'normally occupying a position in whichl such material is arrested within said trunk, having an actuating rod operatively combined therewith, an arm oscillating adjacent said actuating rod, and vmeans governed by the quantity of fibrous material lwithin the hopper tobring about engagement between the said arm and the actuatingrod to open the cut-oft and` thereby release thearrested v material.

1. Supply-controlling means for textilev preparing machinery comprising, in combinationv with ay container for ibrous material-and a trunk. delivering thereto, ycut-olf devices normally acting to arrest flow of vtity 'of lfibrous material within the Vhopper fibrous material from'said trunk, said de- Y vices including an actuating rod, a moving actuator, an engagement member, and means controlled by the quantity of material in said container and controlling the said engagement member to 4bring about the actuation of the said rod and "thereby the` yopening of the cut-orf by said actuator to release the rarrested material. l

V5. Supplycontrolling means vfor textile preparing machinery comprising, in .eom- 'I bination with a hopper and ak trunk delivering fibrous material to such hopper, a cutolf which controls discharge from the trunk to the hopper, means normally acting to y `closel said acuti-oit to arrest the material within the trunk, cut-off operating connections comprising a lever-arrangement. and an actuating rod, a moving actuator, a normally-disengaged engagement member forV connecting the actuator with the rod, and

lmeans, controlled by the quantity lof mate-v rial in the hopper, by which said engagement member is made effective to establishk connection between the actuator and rod when the supply of ibrous material inthe A hQPPeI' S depleted to the predetermined ex-l tent to actuate the cut-ofi' to release the arrested l material.

GQSupply-controlling means rfor textile preparing machinery comprising, in comb ination withV a hopper anda trunk delivering ibrous'material to such hopper, op-

Vpositely arranged cuteoif members for controlling discharge from said trunlg, actuating levers tor said 'cut-off members, an actuating rod linked to .said levers, a moving actuator, a normally-disengaged engagement member for connecting the actuator with the rod, and means, controlled by the quantity or material in the hopper, by which said engagement member is made eltective to establish connection between the actuator and rod when the supply of fibrous material in the hopper is depleted to the predetermined extent.

7. Supply-controlling means for textile preparing machinery comprising, in combination with a hopper and a trunk delivering fibrous material to such hopper, a normally-closed cut-oli which controls discharge from the trunk into the hopper, an actuating member for said cnteof, a moving actuator, an engagement member carried by said actuator and normally lat'ched in inoperative relations with respect to said actuating member, means including a. trip 1which is controlled by the quantity of material contained in the hopper for unlatching the engagement member to cause it to actuate the cut-off actuating member to open the cut-off, and means for restoring the engagement member to inoperative relations.

S. Supply-controlling means for textile preparing machines comprising, in cornbination with a hopper and a trunk delivering librous material to such hopper, pposite cut-off members which control discharge from the trunk to the hopper, levers respectively -connected with the cut-oit members, an actuating rod to which the levers are linked, means for yieldingly closing the cut-ott members, a moving rod-actuator, an engagement-member carried by said actuator and normally latched in inoperative relations vvith respect to the rod, a trip lcontrolled by the quantity ot material occupying the hopper for unlatching said engagcment-member when the said quantity is depleted to the predetermined extent, and means for re-latching the engagement-member in the said inoperative relations.

ansUsrrNn r. I-roRMAN. 

